Ban hails transfer of authority of African-led Mission to UN force in Central African Republic

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday welcomed the transfer of authority early in the day from the African-led Mission to the UN peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic (CAR), saying that the move marks the beginning of the UN force's military and police action in the country.

"The secretary-general welcomes the transfer of authority today from the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic ( MINUSCA)," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. "This transfer of authority marks the successful completion of MISCA's mandate and the beginning of MINUSCA's military and police action in the Central African Republic."

Plagued by decades of instability and fighting, the CAR witnessed a resurgence of violence last December when the Seleka rebels launched a series of attacks, culminating in March when then President Francois Bozize was forced to flee Bangui, the national capital of the CAR, as they seized control of the city.